Cardiff City’s Steven Caulker Set To Join QPR In £8million Deal

Cardiff City defender Steven Caulker has had a medical this morning and is set to finalize a move to Queens Park Rangers.

According to reports in the British media, the two sides have already agreed a fee for the Bluebirds’ captain in the region of £8million ($13.6 million).

The 22-year-old is a product of the Tottenham Hotspur Academy and has been a target of R’s manager Harry Redknapp for the past few weeks.

Redknapp worked with Caulker while he was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur and sees the defender partnering alongside newly-signed centre-back Rio Ferdinand in the Rangers’ defense.

Caulker has seen time with the English national team, making one appearance and scoring a goal against Sweden in 2012. He also made five appearances for Great Britain during the 2012 Olympics.

But he wasn’t selected for this summer’s World Cup squad in Brazil, and QPR manager Harry Redknapp feels that playing alongside Ferdinand may give Caulker the experience he needs to secure a long term spot on the England squad.

The 67-year-old manager has led Rangers back to the Premier League after playing one season in the Championship.

Last season, QPR won promotion by beating Derby County in the Championship Play-off final on the strength of Bobby Zamora’s dramatic goal in the 90th minute.

Redknapp has decided to add players to this season’s squad who are proven in England so they can make an immediate impact.

“I want lads that want to have a go – you just have to hope you can get them,” he said. “You can take chances with too many foreign players.

“In the main I like players that have played in England and proved they can do it here rather than wait six months to see if they settle in – we haven’t got six months.

“We need to stay in the league this year so we know what we are getting with the Caulkers and the Rios. We are looking at another English striker so if I can get British players in the main then I will.”

Steven Caulker made 38 appearances for Cardiff City last season and scored five goals.

He had been linked with moves to Crystal Palace, Southampton and Liverpool.

About Peter Quinn

Although a college basketball coach for sixteen years on the NCAA Division I and II levels, Peter has been an avid football fan for more than half his life. He considers himself a student of coaching and team management.
As well as coaching, Peter has spent time working in Sports Information at various colleges and universities. His articles on European football have been picked up by Bleacher Report UK, International Business Times UK and USA Today.
Twitter: @CoachPeteQuinn
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